Holstein Kiel - Hamburger SV

Hamburg to return home with all three points

TEAM NEWS

Arne Sicker, Aaron Seydel, Masaya Okugawa and Philipp Sander continue to be out for Holstein Kiel. 

Hamburg's Gideon Jung, Jairo Samperio, Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Stepahn Ambrosius,Matti Steinmann, Vasilije Janjicic and Pierre-Michel Lasogga are still absent. 

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Arne Sicker, Philipp Sander (both unspecified); Aaron Seydel (heel), Masaya Okugawa (pulled muscle)

Hamburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Gideon Jung, Jairo Samperio, Stephan Ambrosius (all knee); Matti Steinmann (adductor), Pierre-Michel Lasogga (pulled muscle), Vasilije Janjicic (thigh)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN 

After picking up a respectable 15 points from seven league games, Holstein Kiel were brought back down to earth last weekend as they were beaten 2-1 at home by struggling Bielefeld. Holstein Kiel had previously seen off Sandhausen (2-1), Duisburg (4-0) and Dresden (2-0). Tim Walter’s men are sitting in an excellent fifth spot on 27 points from 17 league games. With only four points separating them from third placed Union Berlin, the promotion/relegation playoff spot is still within their grasp, but they will need to return to winning ways soon – which won't be an easy task against the current league leaders this weekend.

Hamburg maintained their excellent run with a 2-1 win over Duisburg on the road last weekend. Hannes Wolf’s men have without a doubt been the most consistent team in the league so far, winning 11 times, drawing four times and losing only twice to occupy top spot in Germany's second tier. Only Union Berlin (12 goals) have conceded fewer than their 16 goals, but interestingly Hamburg have scored the lowest amount of goals in the top half of the table. 

Wolf’s side have been looking the real deal and they should be too strong for Holstein Kiel. My money is going on a routine win for the away side.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – ODD

Hamburg’s last three wins have arrived via a one-goal differential while Holstein Kiel have lost their last league outing by one goal, too. Given those statistics, a one-goal margin could be enough to settle a tight league encounter at Holstein Stadium this weekend. Take a punt on odd total goals to be scored here.

HEAD TO HEAD

These two have never met at Holstein Stadium in the second tier. Their first ever league meeting was won by Holstein Kiel 3-0 in August earlier this season.